At the time, Rechnitz had been questioned by NYPD Internal Affairs about his connections to Hamlet Peralta, a Harlem restaurateur later convicted of running a $12 million Ponzi scheme. Rechnitz had recruited investors for Peralta. Both men had close ties to cops.

Federal investigators were circling — but Rechnitz had not told his real estate developer dad or Harris about the extent of his many crimes. He is testifying against his former friend, Brooklyn businessman Jeremy Reichberg, who is accused of bribing cops. Ex-Deputy Inspector James (Jimmy) Grant is also on trial for accepting bribes from Reichberg.